Historic Tour of Bhutan

Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Visit Bhutan – The Last Great Himalayan Kingdom

Day 01: Arrival in Paro via Druk Air
The Druk Air flight to Bhutan is one of the most spectacular in the Himalayas. Whether flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu or over the foothills from Kolkata, each flight is an aeronautical feat and offers an exciting descent into the Kingdom.
Upon arrival at Paro Airport, complete immigration and customs procedures and then be greeted by our representative and transferred to the hotel.
In the afternoon, take a stroll along the main street of the town.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 02: Paro
After breakfast, visit the Ta Dzong (National Museum) and then walk the trail to visit the Rinpung Dzong, which has a long and fascinating history.
In the afternoon, visit the Drukgyel Dzong, the ruined fortress from where the Bhutanese repelled several invasions from Tibetan armies. Then, visit a traditional farmhouse that offers a good insight into local lifestyle.
In the afternoon, visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred sanctuaries in the Kingdom.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 03: Paro / Thimphu (60 km, 2 hours)
After breakfast, head to Thimphu, Bhutan’s modern capital. En route, stop at Chuzom (confluence), where the Paro River joins the Thimphu River. Near Thimphu, visit the Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress in the Kingdom, which now houses the Buddhist Studies School.
In the afternoon in Thimphu, visit the King’s Memorial Chorten and the Trashichhodzong, a beautiful medieval fortress/monastery.
Then, visit the Handicraft Emporium, the Textile Museum, and the Folk Heritage Museum, followed by a visit to the local market.
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 04: Thimphu – Punakha (70 km, 3 hours)
In the morning, visit the National Library, the School of Painting, and the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Thimphu.
After lunch, drive to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. Stop at Dochula Pass (3,050 m), which offers charming views of Bhutan.
Upon arrival, check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Punakha Dzong, the 17th-century fortress, and then visit the Chorten Khamsm Yulley Namgyal.
Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

Day 05: Punakha / Wangduephodrang / Gangtey (70 km, 3 hours)
After breakfast, drive to Gangtey through Wangduephodrang. Visit the majestic Wangdue Dzong and the interesting local market.
Then, cross dense forests and oak and rhododendron trees, arriving at Gangtey (Phobjikha).
In the afternoon, take a walk through the village of Gangtey and visit the Gangtey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in this region.
Overnight at Camp / Guesthouse.

Day 06: Gangtey / Trongsa (120 km, 4.5 hours)
In the morning, explore the Phobjikha Valley, famous for the black-necked cranes that migrate here from the Central Asian plateau to escape the harsh winter.
After lunch, drive to Trongsa, crossing Pele La Pass at 3,300 m. In the afternoon, visit the Trongsa market.
Overnight at the lodge in Trongsa.

Day 07: Trongsa / Bumthang (68 km, 3 hours)
In the morning, visit the Trongsa Dzong, a masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture, and the Ta Dzong, the watchtower built to defend the Dzong and the surrounding region.
After lunch, head to Bumthang, the religious heart of the nation. Free afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Bumthang.

Day 08: Bumthang
Bumthang is the general name given to the combination of four valleys – Chumey, Choekhor, Tang, and Ura, with altitudes ranging from 2,600 m to 4,000 m. It is home to many prominent Buddhist temples and monasteries.
Visit Tamshing Lhakhang, home to a treasure of interesting Buddhist religious paintings. Then, visit Jakar Dzong, the administrative center of the valley.
In the afternoon, visit Kurje Lhakhang, one of the holiest places. Later, visit Jambay Lhakhang, the ancient monastery dating back to the introduction of Buddhism in the country.
In the afternoon, visit local shops. Overnight at the lodge in Bumthang.

Day 09: Bumthang / Wangduephodrang (205 km, 7 hours)
In the morning, after visiting the Bumthang market, drive to Wangdue. Lunch will be served en route at one of the famous restaurants in the town of Trongsa.
In the afternoon, take a walk through the town of Wangdue, visit shops, the local market, and socialize with the people.
Overnight at the hotel in Wangduephodrang.

Day 10: Wangduephodrang / Paro (77 km, 3 hours)
In the morning, take an excursion to Chimi Lhakhang, located on a hill in the center of the valley, dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, who in the 15th century used humor, songs, and eccentric behavior to dramatize his teachings, and is also known as the ‘Divine Madman.’ This temple is also known as the Temple of Fertility. It is widely believed that couples who are childless and wish for a child, if they pray at this temple, are generally blessed with a child soon. The temple is about a 30-minute walk through fields from the road. The trail crosses rice fields to the small settlement of Pana, then follows a small stream downhill to Yoaka, and crosses more fields before a brief ascent to Chimi Lhakhang.
In the afternoon, drive back to Paro. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 11: Paro (Excursion to Haa Valley)
Start the day early with a trip to Haa via Chele-la Pass. 4 km from the village of Bondey, the road to Haa deviates to the right and begins to climb towards Chele-la Pass. After driving through blue pine and rhododendron forests for 45 km, reach Chele-la Pass (4,200 m). From this point, enjoy a spectacular view of Mount Chomolhari and Jichu Drakey. It is a good place to take a short walk while enjoying the view. Continue to Haa, descending for another 22 km (less than an hour’s drive) and finally arriving in Haa. Haa Dzong is currently occupied by the military, but the view from the outside is impressive. After a picnic lunch, visit the famous Lhakhang Karpo Monastery (White Temple), followed by Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple). The central sanctuary in Lhakhang Nagpo is said to be identical to the JOWO in Lhasa, Tibet. It is believed that the construction of Lakhang Karpo was assisted by the locals. As a result, the place came to be known locally as ‘Hay,’ meaning ‘surprise,’ which over time became ‘Haa’ due to differences in interpretations and pronunciations.
The three giant hills rising above the edges of the Haa Valley were called ‘Me Rig Puen Sum,’ especially after the incident of the construction of Lhakhang Karpo. Today, the three hills are popularly known as ‘Rig Sum Goenpa,’ meaning three deities – Jambayang, Chana Dorji, and Chenrizig. Later, other Buddhist saints such as Guru Rinpoche and Machi Labdorn arrived at Jungney Drag in Haa and blessed the locality. The main religion followed is Drukpa Kagyud. After the arrival of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the main guardian deity of Haa became Ap Chundu.
In the afternoon, return to Paro. The trip will be less than 3 hours. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 12: Departure from Paro
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to your next destination.